“[A] soulful debut memoir . . . Rueckert’s grappling with uncertainty yields courage and a luminous sense of hope. An engrossing exploration of a hard but ultimately exhilarating trek toward love and commitment.”

“Thoroughly smart and clear-eyed. EAST WINDS invites the reader to question their assumptions. Rueckert asks unique questions that resonate on a universal level.”

“[O]utstanding . . . A captivating reflection on love and faith found in unexpected places, it’s a chronicle of the early days of marriage. Rueckert is a writer to watch. In lovely, candid prose, she shares intimate insights about partnership and the connections that exist because of it. I could not put it down.”

“By turns comical and serious, this passionate, searchful book will speak especially to readers who grapple with the cultural pressure to marry and the taboo of divorce. . .The writing is filled with funny, shivery, illuminated moments. EAST WINDS brims with intelligence.”

“Is it an ethnography, a travelogue, a memoir, a love story, or a true confession? Whatever its genre, it is funny, inciteful, poetic, and engaging. A delightful read!”

“Trouble abounds in this brave, stirring, engaging memoir, but the protagonist proves equal to every bit of it, thanks to her self-awareness and pluck . . . this satisfying record of the growth of a self should please readers of every type. It certainly pleased me.”

“In EAST WINDS Rachel Rueckert journeys around the world and into the heart of a marriage, asking how we can truly know our partner, ourselves, and the truth of our bond. . . A fascinating travelogue and a charmingly bumpy love story, EAST WINDS is an ultimately joyous struggle for identity as and with a partner that many women will recognize within themselves.”

“A worldwide voyage of self-discovery and intriguing anthropological study in marriage relationships . . . this book is strongly recommended. Those interested in anthropology and women’s studies will benefit from the information and stories told within.”